GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- The Tusculum University softball pitching duo of Emily Sappington and Ireland Cavanaugh helped keep the Pioneers' postseason hopes alive by shutting down UVA Wise on Tuesday afternoon (Apr. 18). The pair also drove in both runs in the nightcap to pull off the needed sweep.
Tusculum (23-24, 8-14 SAC) hosts Newberry (27-16, 13-9 SAC) for Senior Day on Friday (Apr. 21) with first pitch at Red Edmonds Field scheduled for 3 p.m. The Pioneers will be honoring Hailey Berglof, Chloe Freischmidt, Katelynn Hodges, Hannah Hughes, Hayley Lazo, and Kallyn Newport prior to game one (approximately 2:40 p.m.).
Game 1: Tusculum 4, UVA Wise 1
Newport, Sappington, and Claire Smeltzer each recorded two hits in the opener as each came up clutch in a variety of ways. Smeltzer's does not show up in the box score, making three diving catches in her left field position.
Newport led off with an 0-2 count drive down the right field line, just inside the foul pole. Of her three career home runs, this was the first for Newport at Red Edmonds Field.
The Cavaliers tied the contest with a RBI double in the second for their only run.
Sappington singled through the left side to start the bottom half of the second, advancing twice on wild pitches. However, the ball never left the infield.
She also started off the fourth with a one-bagger as Italia Kyle entered to pinch run. Hughes laid down a successful sacrifice bunt to move up Kyle. Hodges and Newport notched back-to-back hits to retake the lead.
TU's last run came in the fifth. Smeltzer led off with a single and Alyssa Suits came in to run. She advanced on a passed ball. Lazo was plunked for the second time in game one, 22nd of her career to now hold the program record. She moved up to second on an unsuccessful steal by Suits and went to third on the passed ball. Freischmidt drew a walk, followed by Lazo scoring on Sappington's fielder's choice.
Sappington (10-11) threw the 50th complete game of her TU career, tossing 113 pitches across seven innings. She relented one run on five hits with two walks and nine strikeouts.
Game 2: Tusculum 2, UVA Wise 1
The Pioneer pitchers (Cavanaugh and Sappington) combined to hold UVA Wise to only one run, while driving in both Tusculum runs to preserve a postseason shot.
The contest was scoreless until the fourth inning as the teams left six runners on base. Freischmidt drew yet another walk and Kyle returned to run. Hughes dropped a sacrifice bunt and Kyle advanced to third on a Madison Watts groundout. Cavanaugh helped her cause by knocking a single into center field to bring in Kyle.
The Cavaliers capitalized on a leadoff double in the fifth, driving in their lone run on a sacrifice fly after a wild pitch. They were able to load the bases with two outs, bringing Sappington in from the bullpen. She proceeded to fight back for a flyout to Maddie McBride in right.
TU nearly added on in its half of the inning. With two outs, Smeltzer tallied her second double of game two, advancing to third as Lazo reached on a fielding error. Yet, the game remained tied at 1-all.
UVA Wise had runners on first and second with one out in the sixth when Sammy Jimenez made a potential season-saving play. With the ball hit to her at third, she stepped on the bag for the force-out before throwing a rocket to Lazo at first to complete the inning-ending double play.
Hughes and Watts led off the sixth with consecutive hits as Suits and Riley Hope came in to run, respectively. Suits made it all the way to third on the Watts single to right center, bringing up Sappington. She hit the go-ahead sacrifice fly to plate Suits.
The Cavaliers went down in order in the final frame to seal the victory.
Cavanaugh got the no-decision with her 4.2 inning start, allowing one run on four hits with a walk and three strikeouts across 83 throws. Sappington (11-11) was credited with her second win of the day after 2.1 innings of work with one hit and one walk on 40 pitches.
